Summer Learn to Sail Programs

Beginner Optimist

This course will teach the basics of rigging a boat, basic boat handling, sailing fundamentals, seamanship (knots, weather, etc.), sportsmanship, and water safety. A basic introduction to the sport of sailing. Instruction is done in Club-owned Optimists. Sailors are paired with one another and learn the basics of steering, trimming the sail, and balancing the boat in an exciting, hands-on way.

Intermediate Optimist

This course is for sailors who have completed the beginner Optimist Course and want to continue their progression. Instruction is done in Club-owned Optimists with 1 sailor per boat. By completion, sailors will be able to sail on all points of sail in most wind speeds, know all parts of the boat, and tie basic knots. The goal being to better prepare students for our Opti Green program and future sailing.

Teen 420

This course is for older and larger sailors who are new to sailing, younger sailors with some experience but who are new to the 420, or sailors looking for more time on the tiller before moving on to racing programs. Course includes basics of rigging a 420, boat handling, seamanship (knots, weather, etc.), sportsmanship, and water safety. The second section of the course will dive deeper into proper sail trim, crew and skipper teamwork, and team pairings. Instruction is done in Club-owned C420s with 2 sailors per boat.

Keelboating

This course will teach the basics of keelboat sailing. Instruction will be done in J/22s with a maximum of 4 sailors per boat. Classes will be structured based on the Junior Big Boat Sailing Program curriculum.